Eastern China Travelers Recommend

What better way to see Shanghai’s ever-changing commercial region by looking out from the Oriental TV Tower? The outstanding panoramic view will help you appreciate the thriving metropolis that Shanghai is, as well as give you a great view of the banks of the Huangpu River. This tour continues with a cruise down the Huang River to see the cultural district, taking in buildings in Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque styles, also taking in the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, with its exciting vision for the future of the city. The final stop is Nanjing Road, a pedestrianized street that is full of locals, business people and tourists. Before Shanghai’s explosion, the surrounding area was peaceful port town. You can reconnect with these roots by taking a day trip to the water villages of Suzhou and Zhouzhuang. Suzhou was one of the few places in China to escape the ravages of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and the Net Master Garden.

The undeniable soul of Hangzhou is the area known as West Lake (Xi Hu), which can easily occupy the better part of an entire day. Famous for the naturally occurring “Ten Scenes of the West Lake,” many visitors opt to begin their day by experiencing the dawn break from the calm waters of Su Causeway. After having watched the morning sun dance upon the waters, head out on an old style cruise boat for a quick trip over to Gu Hill—the lake’s lone naturally occurring island—for a view of the surrounding lake region. Once back on shore it’s only a short walk, bike or taxi ride to Lingyin Temple, also known as “The Temple of Soul’s Retreat.” For anyone interested in herbal remedies, acupuncture or the body’s relationship with the overall Universe, then a visit to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum is a must. Located in downtown Hangzhou this former pharmacy educates visitors on the history and culture of traditional Chinese medicine.

The art of the traditional Chinese garden was popular among wealthy Chinese during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and nowhere is the classic beauty of these gardens more evident than in Suzhou, a city located 50 miles (81 kilometers) northwest of Shanghai. Once the private retreats of families living in Suzhou, the gardens that survived the cities whirlwind modernization -- several of them making up a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Classical Gardens of Suzhou -- are now the city’s primary tourist attractions. While the city’s earliest gardens date back to the sixth century BC, their popularity reached its peak between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, when some 200 private gardens dotted the city. If your time in Suzhou is limited, try not to miss the Fisherman’s Net Garden, Lion Grove Garden, Humble Administrator’s Garden and Lingering Garden. Each garden charges a separate entrance fee, and many offer free tours, though often only in Mandarin.